A Green Eyed View - green ideas and advice

Greenwala - 5 Cheap and Easy Last Minute Ways to Green Your 4th of July

Posted by Holly Greenwood

Greenwala awards points for certain activities.

This member has 24925 points.

Thursday, July 02 2009

So I just saw these wonderful cheap and easy tips on how to help Green your 4th of July!!  I think we should pass this on to as many people we know!!  Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July!!!!

Thanks to Inhabitat for the tips!

1. Instead of using paper or plastic cups, have your guests bring their own favorite cups.

This way, no one will forget which cup is theirs and cleanup is a breeze for you because everyone just brings their own drinking receptacle home! You can take it one step further and ask one person from each party to bring their own tupperware to bring scrumptious leftovers from the party home instead of having to throw them out. Positive reinforcement is always a good educational tool!

Cost: $Nada

2. Tell caterers and takeout places to make it "Eco to go."

The simple phrase was created as a way to communicate to restaurants that you would like minimal packaging, condiments and utensils. The more people use it, the more food vendors will know that they have to get on board, so let your favorite spot know about it the next time you order! Better yet, make a homecooked meal for your next event - that way you won't have to fake the funk by dusting flour on your face when your guests arrive.

Cost: $Zip

3. Serve tofu pups and garden burgers instead of meat.

They're better for the environment and you! These are a great excuse to take in less calories if you're watching your weight and everyone I know who has tried them has said they actually taste pretty darn delicious.

Cost: $3-4 a box on average

4. Turn off the AC indoors while your party is going on outdoors.

This one is a no-brainer. You'll save energy and money!

Cost: -$ (the amount it costs you to co

via www.greenwala.com

Thanks to Holly Greenwood and Inhabitat for these cheap and easy suggestions for making your 4th of July Celebration Green.

 

Keep Your Kitchen Cool - Cook With Sunshine

One of the coolest appliances for cooking this summer is the Global Sun Oven. Turn off your stove and have some fun in the backyard, at the beach, while you are camping or boating. The Sun Oven is also a terrific solution when you’re without power due to one of Florida’s hurricanes or any other natural disaster. No need for fuel or electricity to be able to bake, boil or steam your food.

 

You’ll need two things to make this oven work – the sun and your imagination. While you’re working in the yard you can be preparing a meal. One of the keys to getting the most out your Sun Oven is to monitor the angle of the sun and occasionally reposition or refocus your oven to follow its movement.

 

It isn’t heavy, weighing in at 21 pounds, but to make it easier to use, put it on a rolling cart which can be easily turned to the right position. A cart will also get the oven up off the ground for easier access. There is a built in leveling leg on the back of the oven for more accurate focusing. There is also a “levelator” which keeps your dish level even when you raise the angle of the oven. It is the surface on which you place your cooking dish and it works like a swing.

 

The construction of the oven is top notch. The reflectors are made of mirror-finished anodized aluminum. They won’t rust, corrode or oxidize. The inner chamber is aluminum with a non-toxic powder coating. The body is insulated with a heavy batting of non-toxic fiberglass insulation. This is the same insulation used in commercial ovens and furnaces.

The Plexiglas cover seals air-tight with a patented gasket that resists UV damage. Properly cared for this oven will last a lifetime.

 

Remember it’s an oven. It gets hot. Use pot holders and trivets when handling the dishes you are taking out of the oven. But don’t worry about burning your food because the Sun Oven doesn’t have any hot spots. The temperature of your food rises evenly. It’s a bit like your old crock pot because it heats evenly and doesn’t require stirring.

 

While you’re cooking in the Sun Oven you’re saving energy and keeping your kitchen cool and reducing your carbon footprint.

 

Let the sun shine in.

 

Click here for all the FAQs.

 

 

 

Stained concrete floors are inexpensive, versatile and imaginative

Most home construction in Florida starts with a concrete slab. Being at sea level means we can’t have basements. When construction nears completion the flooring is installed. If you want the least expensive yet one of the most imaginative floors in the neighborhood, use a concrete stain and sealer. EcoProcote Products makes a soy based penetrating concrete stain that is bio-based. Soy-Crete contains over 70% bio-based recycled content that is very safe for the person applying it and the environment.

 

If you have an older home and want to get rid of your old carpet or vinyl and want one of the most contemporary and inexpensive floors available, staining your concrete is the way to go. The biggest challenge when it comes to staining a concrete floor and especially an older slab that has carpet, tile or hardwood adhered to it, is the proper preparation.

 

For a beautifully stained floor you have to start with clean porous concrete. Older homes generally have paint, drywall mud, adhesives, and god knows what on the concrete which must be removed before you can start staining. Proper preparation is essential to a good job. EcoProcote makes soy based strippers and cleaners and degreasers to get the junk off your concrete and to properly clean the floor before you get creative with your stain.

 

Soy-Crete is a penetrating stain so test your slab throughout with water to see if it is porous enough. If it isn’t EcoProcote also makes a safe concrete etch called Eco-Etch Pro. It will not burn your skin like phosphoric acid or muriatic blends. It removes deep ground in dirt, rust and efflorescence as it opens the pores for maximum penetration and bonding of the coating materials.

 

All of the EcoProcote products meet numerous Green Building certification programs and may contribute to applicable U.S. Green Building LEED Credit Requirements.

 

The finished floor is unique and versatile and only limited by your imagination. And when compared to the cost of most installed flooring this product is significantly less expensive.

 

For a quick informative demonstration of how to use these products check out the video below.

 

 

 

My Two Favorite Things - Green Drinks

The Green Drinks concept of meeting a few people to talk about green ideas over drinks started over 20 years ago in London and has blossomed into an international movement with chapters in 701 cities. In Florida alone there are 27 Green Drinks groups meeting every month and in the Tampa Bay area you can join your local eco-friendly drinkers in Clearwater, Tampa (Bay) and St. Petersburg.

 

Everyone is welcome to stop by and network over drinks. Green Drinks get-togethers happen in popular bars and restaurants around the Tampa Bay area. There aren’t any rules and regulations to speak of. The idea is for people who are interested in green issues, who work on environmental issues, who are studying green issues or who are just curious to come together, usually once a month for a couple of hours after work, and share insights, motivate, inspire and have fun.

 

The dress code is as follows – oh there isn’t a dress code  because it’s not about what you wear. It’s about having an informal good time with like minded people who want to socialize and connect.

 

Go to www.greendrinks.org to find out when and where the next Green Drinks gathering is happening in your neighborhood and get involved.

 

Cheers.

 

 

The Green Alphabet – A Look at Third Party Green Certification

When you start looking around for green products and green certified building materials, you are going to notice the alphabet soup of acronyms being used in the industry. I’m going to give you a short list of the most important organizations and third party certifications to look for. Be aware that some companies have created their own “green washing” identification process. The list below contains the most trusted programs in place today.

USGBC – The US Green Building Council is the non-profit umbrella organization responsible for setting the standard for green building. It is comprised of leaders in the construction industry whose goal is to ‘transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.’ See www.usgbc.com

LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a rating system created by the USGBC to give the green building industry a set of standards and programs in five main areas - sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. See www.usgbc.org/leed/homes

FSC - The Forest Stewardship Council was created to set standards for responsible, sustainable forestry. When choosing the wood components for your home including framing, subflooring, flooring and doors insist on FSC certified wood only. There are other certification programs that are not as responsible and FSC is by far the leader in environmental forestry. See www.fscus.org

SCS – Scientific Certification Systems is a third party certification program that concentrates on food safety and quality, environmental protection and social responsibility in the private and public sectors, and works to stimulate continuous improvement in sustainable development. See www.scscertified.com

Green Seal is a third party certification system that utilize a life-cycle approach, which means they evaluate a product or service beginning with material extraction, continuing with manufacturing and use, and ending with recycling and disposal. Products only become Green Seal certified after rigorous testing and evaluation. See www.greenseal.org

GREENGUARD is another third party certification system which focuses on indoor air quality in building materials and consumer products. See www.greenguard.org

ISO - The term ISO stands for the International Organization for Standardization. You would reasonably assume that it ought to be IOS, but it isn't. Apparently, the term ISO was chosen (instead of IOS), because iso in Greek means equal, and ISO wanted to convey the idea of equality - the idea that they develop standards to place organizations on an equal footing. For an informative FAQ written in plain English.  see www.praxiom.com/faq.htm

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. See www.EnergyStar.gov

NOP – The USDA National Organic Program oversees the certification standards and practices associated with organic products. See USDA National Organic Program

There are others but these are the big players in the certification of all things green. If you see a certification that isn’t familiar, you should definitely see who they are and what they do. You will find some companies creating their own certification labels to try to convince you that they are “green”. Just because a product or company tells you in their beautiful slick marketing that they are green doesn’t make it so.

Check out all the above programs for listings of the products and companies that have been legitimately certified by independent third party certification processes.

How Can I Recycle This?

I live in a city that is a dinosaur when it comes to recycling. The county has provided recycling sites and the city has a few also, so those who take the time to transport their recyclables do have some options. But you know as well as I do, if it isn’t convenient to do, it doesn’t get done as often or at all. Curb-side recycling is prevalent in the surrounding cities and studies show the cost to the individual is less than what we pay for “sanitation services” in my fair city. As we drag ourselves into the 21^st century I continue to look for options.

 

I came across the ingenious website called How Can I Recycle This? It’s a brilliant UK site that promotes ideas about how to recycle, re-use, and re-purpose just about everything you can imagine. The site was an idea born from pistachio shells. Here’s what the creators say about that, “This site started from a bowl of pistachio nut shells.

After we gorged ourselves on their lovely innards, they, the shells, just sat there, looking useful and versatile – but we had no idea what we could possibly do with them. Just throwing them on the compost heap seemed a waste – all the effort to make them tough and solid, and here we were just hoping they’d rot back down to mulch before the potatoes needed earthing up. When we thought about it, we were in the same position with lots of things: leftover bits of food, old household items, empty containers of all shapes and sizes… And so this site was born.”

 

When you visit their site, share your ideas for putting a new life in the stuff you might throw away, get great ideas, and ask for suggestions on what to do with your junk. Less will get thrown out and, for me and my friends it means fewer trips to the not so convenient recycle center.

The Value of Using Green Products - Part 2

This is the second installment about value versus price.

“You get what you pay for” is not just a marketing phrase. When you compare the hidden costs of cheap products versus more expensive quality products, you will see the value of not choosing products based on price alone.

Let’s say you need to replace your old living room carpet. The flooring market is huge and you should do some serious shopping before you decide. The first decision needs to be the type of floor you are going to use. If you are swapping out old carpet for new carpet be careful what you buy.

My recommendation is to only buy carpet that is made of natural materials and without harmful chemicals. I’ve heard from customers over the years that had to move out of their homes when they put down new synthetic carpet because they became dangerously ill. Maybe that’s never happened to you but why put yourself in a position of being exposed to a soup of chemicals that have been proven to be dangerous. To purposely expose yourself to health risks, is gambling that there won’t be some serious consequences now or sometime in the future. If you have children or pets that spend much more time on the floor, synthetic carpets are even more dangerous.

Formaldehyde, toluene, xylene, styrene, benzene, 4-phenylcyclohexene and methyl-benzene, known as ‘volatile organic compounds’ (VOCs), are just a few of the toxics that are known to be used in synthetic carpeting.

You can avoid that mess by buying carpeting or other flooring that does not contain any of those chemicals. And yes you’ll pay more. The reason inexpensive carpeting is inexpensive is directly related to the fact that synthetic ingredients are cheaper to produce. And you’ll be replacing that cheap carpet much sooner than a quality non-toxic carpet.

In the long run a non-toxic wool carpet, for example, will outlast the cheap synthetic carpet and safeguard your family from exposure to dangerous chemicals. Once again, if you amortize the cost over the length of time you’ll enjoy your non-toxic carpet, compared to buying and re-buying the cheap stuff, the difference is pennies a day.

That’s value, peace of mind, and smart shopping all rolled in to one.

The Art of Napping

I got to thinking about napping today. As I was waking up from my nap, I took inventory of the things that I find helpful in making the napping process the best it can be.

 

First I need to recognize the physical signs and respond as quickly as possible. I live alone so it’s very easy to finish or postpone what I’m doing when the time is right. My body clock seems to slow down somewhere between 3 and 4 PM.  If I get past 4 PM, I usually have lost the need or desire to nap. But if I can lie down shortly after 3 PM, I’m in the zone.

 

My bedroom isn’t dark enough for daytime napping so I have a sleep mask. My first experience using one was on a trip to Italy, where napping is a tradition by the way. I haven’t been without a sleep mask since. They come in a range of styles. The simple sleep masks supplied by the airline industry work just fine but I’ve upgraded to a better one that has a lavender scented padding. The scent of lavender has a calming effect and enhances the napping experience. There are all sorts of styles available. Start here: www.dreamessentials.com.

 

I also live on a busy street with lots of traffic and I’m quite sensitive to noise, so earplugs are a must. Once again I first got introduced to the joy of earplugs when traveling to Italy. The first time I used them, I was in heaven. Since then I buy them by the box and always have them at the ready. There are quite a few styles available at your local pharmacy with different noise reduction ratings. Experiment until you find the ones that work best for you. I use the foam type that you roll into a thin cylinder. When you insert them into your ear canal, they expand and block the noise. I find NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) 29 works great for my needs. Not only do they come in handy for napping but you might want to consider using them anytime you’re in a situation where the noise levels are dangerous or annoying – lawn mowing, concerts, movies, using power tools, flying or reading and studying. If your partner snores, you will be grateful for the relief. There is actually an online earplug super-store where you can find virtually everything you’ll ever need for noise reduction - http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net.

 

The next ingredient in great napping is wonderful pillows. I miss my pillows when I travel. I use the Dream Pillow by Natura from HealthyHome.com and I love them. They are composed of shredded natural Talalay latex and they are very inexpensive compared to other so called latex pillows. Because the latex is shredded the pillow can be molded and shaped to fit my head and neck perfectly. So I have one for my head and another that goes between my knees for perfect alignment of my spine. And a bonus feature is that natural latex, not polyurethane foam or memory foam, is naturally resistant to dust mites, mold and mildew.

 

So now I’ve got all the essentials for a perfect nap – except one. My beautiful Lucca, the wonder cat, is the pièce de résistance. She loves to cuddle and she has the nap thing down to a fine science. If you don’t have a “Lucca”, you can get one at your local animal rescue organization. You’ll be doing yourself a favor and giving a home to a needy and grateful animal. Dogs are great cuddle buddies too. If you can’t or don’t have a pet, grab a teddy bear for the time being.

 

So that’s it. Put all those things together and you have the recipe for a beautiful nap. And it’s a fact that napping is beneficial to your health. We shouldn’t have to steal the time or feel guilty when we do find the time to nap. You will be doing your mind, body and spirit a huge favor.

 

Sleep well and sweet dreams my friends.

The Value of Using Green Products - Part 1

Are you watching your budget closer than you ever have? Obviously you aren’t alone. Businesses everywhere are reporting sluggish sales. Even the advertising addicted Walmart. When it comes to making choices for the dollars you do have to spread around, what is your criteria?

 

Unfortunately price is probably Number 1 on most people’s lists. Why is that unfortunate, you ask? When you need to manage a budget and there are only so many dollars available, shouldn’t price be the guiding force? The simple answer is NO.

 

I guess the best way to illustrate what I’m thinking is to work backwards from the results of letting price alone be the driving force when you’re shopping. For instance, I sell a few products that are more expensive than the traditional options available elsewhere. Paint is an example. The three brands of safe paint that I sell are priced from $32.50 to $50.90 a gallon. You can buy paint from the big box stores for around $20.00 and up a gallon. Let’s say I need to paint my condo. I’ll probably need about 10 gallons for 2 coats, which is recommended by paint companies everywhere. So if I use the most expensive of my ZERO VOC, safe, non-toxic, low odor, and high performance paints I’ll be paying $509.00. If I go to the other guys and buy the $20 per gallon toxic paint, I’ll only have to spend $200.00. Wow that’s a big savings.

 

But, and this is a big but, if I choose the cheaper option, I will be exposing myself and my family to a toxic off-gassing paint that will continue to put toxic chemicals into my home’s air and my lungs and also the environment for months and maybe years. Can you put a price tag on your health and the health of the environment? By the way, a portion of the ground level ozone we encounter is thanks to traditional paint. Most people paint the interior of their homes approximately every 5 to 7 years. That $309 savings becomes $61.80 per year or $5.15 per month if you spread it over a 5 year period or as I like to say – the difference is pennies a day. And because my paint is superior in quality, I won’t have to re-paint as quickly as I would with the cheaper paint.

 

The value of using the better product is keeping your family safe from toxic chemicals and a more durable high performance paint job. It’s worth pennies a day for the peace of mind and environmental benefits associated with a safe paint. If you compare our least expensive paint at $32.50 per gallon to the toxic stuff, the value is even more apparent.

 

And value is just as important, or more so to me, than the immediate savings from the purchase of an inferior product that has hidden costs associated with it in the form of health issues, environmental pollution and poor performance.

 

Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for Part 2.

Make Your Blog Carbon Neutral for FREE

My blog is Carbon Neutral and it was easy and free. It doesn’t get much better than this. Is your blog CO2 neutral? Follow the easy steps below and you can make it so.

 

How much carbon dioxide does your blog create?

According to a study by Alexander Wissner-Gross, PhD, physicist at Harvard University and environmental activist, an average website causes about 0.02g (0,0008oz.) of carbon dioxide for each visit. Assuming an average blog gets 15,000 visits a month, it has yearly carbon dioxide emissions of 3,6kg (8lb.). This can mainly be tracked back to the immense energy usage from (mainframe) computers, servers, and their cooling systems.

Does your blog have more than 15,000 visitors a month? Just e-mail us at CO2-neutral@kaufda.de. We make sure we neutralise your blog too.

 

How much carbon dioxide does a tree absorb?

Unfortunately, no precise answer is possible. The carbon dioxide absorption of a tree can differ a lot. The amount of carbon dioxide that a tree can absorb depends on the type of tree, light exposure, length of the vegetation period, latitude, water balance, and the soil conditions.

There are many different calculations for the saving potential of a tree. The assumed values vary between 10 and 30kg (20 and 70lb.) for a tree each year. It is certain however, that in its first two to three years a tree absorbs relatively little carbon dioxide. In the growth phase following this, the absorption rate increases rapidly. During this time, the tree safes a considerable amount of carbon dioxide. The absorption rate decrease again from the age of 18.

 

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) assumes a yearly absorption of one tree of approximately 10kg (20lb.) carbon dioxide emissions. “Make it green”, the environmental programme of kaufDA, is using a yearly absorption value of 5kg (11lb.) for its “My blog is carbon neutral” initiative. This is a very conservative calculation, ensuring that the neutralisation of each blog is achieved.

 

One tree neutralises the carbon dioxide emissions of your blog

As demonstrated in the above calculation, the atmosphere can be relieved by an average of 5kg (11lb.) carbon dioxide every year by planting one tree. An average blog causes 3.6kg (8lb.) of carbon dioxide emissions. Consequently, a tree neutralises the carbon dioxide emissions of a blog. Since a tree lives for an average of 50 years, carbon dioxide emissions of your blog can be completely neutralised for this time period.

So, are you ready? Follow the steps below and you’ve got the right to brag that your blog is carbon nuetral too.

 

Just a few easy steps to make it green:

1. Write a blog post about the initiative + insert your favourite button
2. E-mail the link to your post to CO2-neutral@kaufda.de
3. We plant a tree for your blog in Plumas’!

Click the button below to make your blog Carbon neutral too